Dear Sir,

I take the Opportunity of Fulmore's^A Return with the Oneidas to acquaint you of our Arrival here on the 17th in the Evening. Yesterday Morning I marched with 500 Men to the North Side of St Johns where we found a Party of the King's Troops with Field Pieces. This Party had beaten off Major [John] Brown^B a Few Hours before who had imprudently thrown himself in their Way depending on our more early Arrival, which thro the Dilatariness of our young Troops could not be sooner affected. The Enemy after an ill directed Fire for some Minutes retired with Precipitation, & lucky for them they did; for had we known their Situation which the Thickness of the Woods prevented our finding out till it was too late, there would not a Man of them have returned. The old Story of Treachery spread among the Men, as soon as we saw the Enemy, we were trepanned drawn under the Guns of the Fort and what not.

The Woodsmen^c were not so expert at forming as I expected, and too many of them hung back. Had we kept Silence at first before we were discovered, we should have gotten a Field Piece or two. I have left the 500 Men at the joining^D of the two Roads. This Day I have sent them entrenching Tools. Things seem to go well among the Canadians. It is strongly reported that the Kings Stores are embarked at Montreal in order to be removed. I have sent Col. [Ethan] Allen to Chamblee in Order to raise a Corps. Send me Money as fast as possible my Dear General. Guy Johnson & [Daniel] Clause have represented us as beggarly Miscreants who have Nothing to give away to the Indians, nor to pay for what we get. Fulmore will give you an Account of our Council.

I have great Dependance on your Presence at Tyonderoga to administer to our many Wants. I most earnestly hope this may find you relieved from the Acuteness of your Pain! A perfect Cure in so short a Time can hardly be expected.

Believe me my dear Sir [&c.]

P.S. On the 17th at Night Major Brown intercepted eight Carts going to the Fort, laden with Rum & Gun Carriages for the Vessels. Those Things were hid in the Woods, and were not recovered by the Enemy on Brown's discomfiture.

A ー Fulmore an Indian Interpreter who attended the Deputies of the six Nations to Caghnawagas.
B ー Major Brown I had sent on the 14th with 100 of our Men and about 34 Canadians towards Chamblee to keep up the Spirits of the Canadians, and to join the Army at St Johns as soon as it should arrive there
C ー Woodsmen I suppose the New Hampshire People and green Mountain Corps.
D² ー Joining of the Roads which lead to Chamblee, and Longuille opposite to Montreal.